Coming Back to You ✔

8. June - Two Years Ago

Sophia usually only took two-hour power naps in the mornings after night shifts. She worked hard to keep a normal sleep schedule and enjoy her next days off. But, today, the image of a tired but attractive, grinning firefighter invaded her thoughts so often that it was a miracle that she even got part of the two hours.

With the power nap, however, also came the crushing return of self-doubt and negative thoughts. Sophia had been making herself lunch, right in the middle of spreading peanut butter on toast, when the voice came back in her head.

You'll probably never even see or talk to him again, not after you rambled on so much this morning. He was just being polite, listening to you.

Sophia put down the knife and took a deep breath, closing her eyes and employing some of the techniques she had worked on with her therapist. No, that was a ridiculous thought. He came up to her and voluntarily sat down with her to talk to her. And was actually interested in what she was saying. There's no reason why they wouldn't ever talk again.

Talking to herself helped a bit, but the fact that getting Graham's words in her head started up again so soon after meeting Dean was more than a bit unnerving. Sophia picked up her phone.

"Hey, are you busy right now? Can you come over?"

Half an hour later, Raina Alvi, Sophia's best friend in the entire world, stood in her doorway, two Starbucks Frappuccinos in hand.

A freelance interior designer, Raina was just about the most driven person Sophia knew. They had been roommates their freshman year of college, and even after graduation and getting their own places, they remained close as ever.

It was Raina who Sophia credited for saving her life.

"You have a client meeting?" Sophia asked. Raina was decked out in her professional best, and while she was always fashionable, some looks were solely for business. It was also thanks to Raina that Sophia had any type of style. She had once tried to go to a job interview in Sophomore Year dressed in a plain black suit. Raina had fixed that with a snap of her fingers.

"Two hours," Raina said, waving her hand like she hadn't a worry in the world. "I always have time for you."

Sophia loved her so much. "I'm sorry if you're busy, I really hate to pull you away from anything important," she said, chewing her lip nervously.

Raina stopped at the small island in the kitchen and narrowed her eyes. "Why are you apologizing for that when I already said it's fine?" she asked, her voice sharp with concern. "I thought we stopped apologizing for stupid things."

Sophia groaned and put her head in her hands. "I know, I know, I'm—" She stopped herself this time.

"Is this about this new guy?" Raina demanded. "Because if he fucking did something to you, I'm about to throw hands with the entire goddamn LAFD."

"Raina, Raina, no it's nothing like that," Sophia quickly reassured her, although she couldn't help but have to push down a smile at Raina's immediate defensive words. "It's not about him. Well, I guess it kind of is."

Raina eased herself onto one of the barstools. "Explain."

It didn't take long for Sophia to take Raina through everything that had happened with Dean and the return of Graham's voice in her head. By the time she was done, Raina was studying her with a thoughtful gaze.

"I mean, your therapist did say this might happen, right?"

Sophia sighed and then nodded. "Yeah. She always said that even if these thoughts mostly went away, there was always a chance something might trigger them to reappear. And that included..."